| dc.description.abstract | Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a direct and deliberate act that involves damage to one´s body
tissues without suicidal intent. Research shows that it is maintained by four reinforcement
processes (automatic positive and negative, social positive and negative) and to be related to
insecure types of attachment styles. However, whether there is a relationship between
attachment styles and the reinforcement functions is unknown. Participants (N = 753; age M =
36.01 years, SD = 12.58) recruited from the general community of Canada and USA were
classified into the NSSI group (participants with at least one NSSI act in their lifetime; n =358)
and the Control group (participants with no history of NSSI; n =395). Results indicated that
participants in the NSSI group endorsed anxious attachment style to a greater degree than the
Control group. In contrast, the Control group endorsed secure attachment style to a greater
degree than the NSSI group. Those with anxious attachment style reported that they engaged in
NSSI for reasons related to automatic negative reinforcement and automatic positive
reinforcement, indicating that self-harming among these individuals serves an emotional
regulation purpose. Besides anxious attachment, sex was found to be another critical factor to
consider in predicting the function of NSSI. Women and those with anxious attachment style
were more likely to endorse NSSI automatic positive and negative functions, while the men and
those with depression were more likely to endorse NSSI social negative functions. Overall, the
findings point to the importance of anxious attachment style in predicting the reasons for
nonsuicidal self-harm. These findings and their implications are discussed with limitations of
the study in mind. | en_US |
